Serving Stanton, Clay City & Powell County, Kentucky for More Than 100 Years

Robert "Bob" Heft designed the flag we use today back when he was 17 as part of a class project. Heft passed away last weekend.

By James Cook, Times Editor and Sarah Bloom, Times Reporter

Robert Heft, affectionately known as the father of our modern flag, died last Saturday afternoon. He was 67, a cause of death was not immediately known. One of his last speeches about the flag was in Clay City just eight days before his death.

Heft designed the 50 star flag as part of a classroom assignment in 1958. He was 17 years old and made a B- but his teacher told him the grade could improve if Washington accepted his idea. At the time there were only 48 states with Alaska about to join the Union. Hawaii soon followed and President Dwight D. Eisenhower called Heft to tell him that his design had been accepted. The flag was ratified in 1960

Heft, known to all who met him as Bob, never married and became a motivational speaker. He would travel the country and tell his story about perseverance. He spoke to a group of students and parents at Clay City Elementary at their Winterfest on Dec. 4

Heft and senatorial candidate Bill Johnson made the impromptu visit on their way to another engagement. “He saw the crowd and wanted to stop in,” Johnson said on Monday. “He loved talking to kids and when they joined him in saying the Pledge there, it made his day. He talked about it the rest of the weekend.” Johnson confirmed that Heft’s visit at Clay City was his last with a school group.

In fact news accounts out of Saginaw, Michigan and interview accounts with friends indicate he had spoken about the visit to Clay City and was happy he got to visit.

Johnson, who seemed to be upset with the untimely death of Heft, admitted that he was caught by surprise but knew Heft enjoyed his visit to Powell County. “I know he loved speaking to those children (at Clay City). He enjoyed it and I hope they enjoyed too. It is not every day that history walks in to talk to you,” Johnson stated. “If anyone has that on videotape, of him and the kids reciting the Pledge, I would love to have a copy of it. I know his family would too. He was quite the patriot and loved America.”

Heft’s funeral is scheduled for today (Thursday) in Michigan. Next July 4 the flag he designed will turn 50 years old, it is already the longest running U.S. Flag design in history.

The star of the Clay City Lions Club Christmas Parade, Santa, rolled into town on a fire truck last Saturday afternoon, as childen waited anxiously to see him. The parade had the perfect weather too, with cold temperatures and some snow on the ground.

A special meeting of the Stanton City Council last week was supposed to help clear up why water rates would be increasing and hopefully bring the new ordinance to a first reading. But only one of those goals was met. Council members now understand why the rates are being increased by the Beechfork Water Commission, but they want to further discuss how to make the increase as painless as possible on the city water customers.

Ray Rogers, the city’s representative on the Beechfork Water Commission since 1997, was at the meeting to inform the council as to the reasons why an increase was necessary. “The cost of producing water for the owners, which are you, Clay City and the county, has increased,” Rogers informed the council. “The costs of the chemicals we use have gone up, gas went from $1.29 to $4.39 last year and that added to the cost and it costs more to produce as we add more customers to the services.” Rogers added that chemicals went up $15,000 in one year.

Rogers continued, “The cost of a can of corn is not the same as it was in 1998 and milk has almost doubled since then. If you can find a store that still sells them at 1998 prices, let me know I want to shop there.” The water commission has not asked Stanton, Clay City or the county, as well as Powell’s Valley Water to increase water rates since 1998.

“We decided back in 1998 to run this (water commission) like a business and look for ways to reduce the cost,” Rogers said. “We went from powder chemicals, which were more dangerous and costlier to liquid chemicals to help reduce costs. We have bigger and better holding tanks and the way we are set up, we should never have to worry about drought situations again.”

Back in 2000 a drought put the water commission in a bind as the reservoir levels dropped. Pumps provided by the county to draw water from the Red River helped to divert a serious situation. “We draw most of our water now from the river and we have holding tanks. The reservoir is there to help, so we should not face a problem,” Rogers added. “In fact, back in 2006 when neighboring counties were going through the drought conditions they had to have water restrictions, but we here in Powell County did not because of the things we have done to insure we have enough water.” The commission has a 600,000 holding tank.

“We produce a quality product. I think most of us who are old enough can remember the days when the water was muddy, but now it is one of the best in the state,” Rogers said. “There is no better water in the state of Kentucky than is produced by Beechfork Water. We are proud of our work and what we can provide.” Rogers reported that the commission has received several accolades and awards from the state in recent years for the water quality.

“We deliberated hard and long, several three and four hour long sessions, about an increase. It was suggested to go to 87 cents, but we stuck with 67 because we know there is a hardship on families now,” Rogers stated. “But with more responsibility and water projects, and having to produce more water, plus having to repair pumps at the river at a cost of around $5,000, you can see we have to ask for an increase.”

“Is this like a 10 year plan? What about just raising it a few cents a year gradually so we’re not asking for a big increase at one time,” Council member Dustin Meadows asked. “This is our 10 year plan and if you want to do that you could. We cannot guarantee, no one can guarantee what the next 10 years hold,” Rogers answered. “But we were in the red last year and had enough hold over money to take care of it. We won’t be able to that every year.”

Some questions were raised in the regular November council meeting about why the increase was needed and had the council looked at the water commission’s budget. Rogers put those fears to rest. “We are audited every year, state and federal, and we have never failed an audit,” he stated. City attorney Scott Graham, who is also the attorney for the water commission, confirmed the statement.

Council members agreed that the increase will have to be paid as Beechfork provides the water that the city uses. Rogers and Mayor Dale Allen reminded the council that the county and Clay City have already either passed an ordinance or are about to hold a second reading. But as for holding that first reading, there were still some questions.

“I think we need to look at the increase we voted on earlier for the loans we thought we needed and apply some of that to the new increase,” Council member Dixie Lockard stated. “Then maybe we only need to increase it say 20 cents now.” Fellow council member Charlotte Estes added, “Those on fixed incomes just can’t make this payment if we keep increasing it.”

Allen advised that the earlier increase was supposed to be for those expected loans that did not materialize. “The water project came in under budget, but the state thought we would need the loan and it had been about 10 years since we increased rates. I think we need to leave it, this increase would be on the water only not sewer, but we can do what the council wants,” Allen said. “I’d just hate to see us take a step back.”

The rate increase in question now would raise the rate to 67 cents per 1,000 gallons. That would be $1.34 for 2,000 gallons. The rate increase the council passed in June raised the cost by $1.36 per 2,000 gallons or 68 cents per 1,000 gallons. At that time they also raised the sewer rates, but the sewer rates will not be affected by the new increase.

“I just think we need to see what we can do to help our people out as much as we can and if we can apply some of the increase we already passed towards this increase now, then it won’t be as hard on people,” Lockard said. The council agreed to hold off on a first reading until they could see some financial records and figures dealing with the earlier increase and the expenditures.

The council then held a second reading of the city tax ordinance. Keeping the rates the same, with real property and personal property being taxed at a rate of .083 cents per $100 assessed value, the council voted 5-0 to accept the tax rate.

The council will meet tonight (Dec. 10) in the Powell District Courtroom, known as the small courtroom, at 6:30 p.m.

When Shari Rogers of Winchester stopped in at Hair Force One to have her hair done last Friday, she never thought she would have to make a call to her insurance agent. Not because of a strange salon miscue, but instead her parked car was struck by a man police believe was under the influence of drugs.

Police received a call at 3:35 p.m. that a man driving a white, Chevrolet truck had either passed out or fallen asleep in the McDonalds drive-thru line on South Main Street in Stanton. While they were on their way to check out the call, another call came in that the same truck had been involved in an accident on North Main Street.

The truck, driven by Nickie A. Miller, had crossed from the northbound lane to the southbound lane. Miller then went over the sidewalk and struck Rogers car in the parking lot shared by the hair salon, Comprehensive Care and the Powell County Soil Conservation District.

Officers from the Kentucky Motor Vehicle Enforcement and Kentucky State Police joined Stanton City Police and the Powell County Sheriff’s Department at the scene. KVE Officer Danny Abner handcuffed Miller and began to search him. Abner found $4,097 in cash in Miller’s pockets. Deputy Kevin Babcock asked for and was given permission by Miller to search his truck. A white plastic bag with six bottles of pills was found behind the driver’s seat.

Powell County Sheriff Danny Rogers joined in on the search. The prescription bottles, which had he names of the patient scratched off of them, contained a total of 654 different pills. According to the arrest report among those found were 91 xanaxs, 85 yellow percocets, 243 green oxycodones and 235 blue oxycodones. Miller also allegedly had five other pills in his jean’s watch pocket. The report, filed by Rogers, indicates that the pills were hand delivered to the KSP Lab in Ashland by state police.

“He was out of it and we’re lucky no one got hurt,” Rogers said. “It just goes to show how big this problem is.” Rogers also was appreciative of the combine law enforcement efforts at the scene. “Everyone responded to the calls and once again we all worked together to handle this one,” Rogers said. “That is a plus and we are able to that a lot, which is good for us and the community.”

Miller, 47 of Stanton, was charged with DUI of alcohol/drugs first and three counts of first degree trafficking in a controlled substance. He was also charged with three counts of third degree trafficking in a controlled substance. Miller was taken to the Powell County Detention Center. His bond has been set at $139,500.

It has happened before. Dispatchers send out officers or emergency personnel to a call, but really cannot give much more information than the address and nearby cross roads. It would be nice if those responding emergency workers had an eye-in-the-sky that could give more information about the home or the area they going to. Information like the type of house, what is the best way into the area and the scenery around the home that may help them do their job quicker and safer. That would be a nice Christmas present.

The initial idea of a new program called Pictometry Visual Intelligence was to give PVA offices a way to check on properties they may not have easy access to. “If we run across, say a cabin back in the woods that has a locked gate at the entrance and the cabin is quite a ways off the road, we can’t really assess that,” Billings said.

The new technology gives the office a chance to see the property, as well as other properties throughout the county. It will also allow them to measure buildings, roads and property. The program can be used to show areas where new construction is possible, environmental assessments and community planning, according to the company.

The program was purchased by Billings’ office through their own accounts at the cost of near $32,000. But he is allowing local law enforcement, dispatch center, ambulance crews and fire personnel to use the program as well. “All they will need to buy or pay for is an external hard drive for their computers,” Billings said. “We got it for this office’s needs, but is actually better for EMT’s, fire departments and police.”

The PVA staff has to go through training to use the program. That same training will be offered to the local emergency crews as well. “We provide training for 6 to 12 people right now and it will be the same training our people are going through,” Billings added.

“There is a feature that when subsequent fly-overs are conducted, if any changes are found it will alert us to the change of the landscape or new structures,” Billings said. “Plus if we were to have some form of natural disaster, as soon as the president declares it an emergency our contract calls for a fly-over within 24 hours. Then we can compare what was there and what was damaged. That will help with quicker claims and quicker help foe the area.”

According to the company’s information packets, the Pictometry program is a revolutionary information system that will give the PVA and emergency workers “up to 12 different views of every square foot” in the county. The program allows those using it to use a high-resolution image either from an angle or straight down on an area. “Unlike Google Earth, when we zoom in or the officers zoom, the image will be very clear no matter how close we zoom. On Google Earth the more you zoom in the image becomes blurry. Not with this program,” he stated. “That will give officers, ambulance crews or firemen information about where is the best entry point to a home or an area.”

The resolution is supposed to be so good that Billings states it can zoom into an area that one foot by one foot. “Yes, we can zoom into a one-by-one concrete pad,” Billings said. The company website does address privacy issues by indicating that the system will not allow a high enough resolution to see people’s faces.

“It will be a good tool and asset for us,” Powell County EMS/Dispatch Center Director Raymond Patrick remarked when asked about the program. “We still have some problems with no addresses being visible or the wrong address being posted. I am working with Darren (Farmer, Powell County Judge Executive) about coming up with a county ordinance dealing with the address issues. But this program can help a lot.”

“We’ve been told about a case in Muhlenburg County where a volunteer fireman arrived at a house fire and went around back in full gear,” Billings recalled. “As others began to arrive, dispatchers were able to warn them about an in ground pool at the back of the home. When they went back there they found the first firemen in the pool struggling with all the gear on, trying to get out. This program and the information they had available, probably saved his life.”

Billings indicated that CSEPP Director Danny McCormick was also interested in the program and that Powell County Emergency Management liked the idea. “Arthur (Ashley, EM Director) said they use the program in Lexington with the fire department and it helps a lot,” Billings added.

The program requires several flyovers by the company to photograph and map the areas. “Those are already underway,” Billings stated. “It should be completed soon and the software should be ready for use sometime in January.”

Robert "Bob" Heft designed the flag we use today back when he was 17 as part of a class project.

By Sarah Bloom, Times Reporter

It’s not very often that a real piece of American history walks into a small town elementary school lunchroom. Such was the case Friday night at the Clay City Elementary School when Robert “Bob” Heft, designer of the current and longest flying American flag, made a surprise stop as students, parents, and staff were enjoying the annual Winterfest.

Just as the musical entertainment for the evening was wrapping up, a lively fellow in a red, white, and blue shirt came through the door escorted by Republican senatorial candidate Bill Johnson. Johnson stepped to the microphone and announced that as he and Heft were passing through town en-route to a speaking engagement they noticed the full parking lot and decided to make an unscheduled stop.

As the children quickly gathered around the stage Heft began to explain his story and suddenly the enormity of what these lucky students were beholding became clear. They were fortunate enough to be audience to a genuine and priceless piece of American history. Heft carefully related the story of how a poorly scored assignment from his high school history class inevitably changed his life.

In 1958 Bob was seventeen and merely wanted to pass his history class. So when his teacher once again announced it was time for the projects the students were to do outside of the classroom he decided to build on his childhood fascination with flags. At the time there was much political talk surrounding the decision on whether or not to make Alaska the 49th state. With an important Presidential election on the horizon Bob came to the deduction that there was simply no way the powers that be would settle for an unbalanced Democrat and Republican ratio and would therefore be more likely to adopt two new states. So he made it his project to construct a new American flag with 50 stars instead of the then-current 48 star flag with the assumption that the United States would indeed one day have fifty states.

As he nervously stood before his high school history class and gave his presentation he had no idea how this small project would shape the rest of his life. Upset as his teacher handed him a disappointing B- for his efforts he took it as a personal goal when his teacher said he would be willing to raise his grade if Bob could get Washington to accept his flag. That was all the incentive the spunky seventeen year old needed and with much determination the rest of the story is what you would call “history”.

After much work and waiting Heft’s flag was adopted as the new symbol representing the United States of America shortly after Hawaii was ratified on August 21, 1959. Keeping with the country’s tradition the fiftieth star was added to the flag on the fourth of July in 1960 with the adoption of Heft’s rendering. Since the flag selection is a presidential decision Bob received a call from President Eisenhower himself notifying him of the honor.

Bob pressed home the point to his young audience “that hard work and determination was the key to achieving your goals.” He also told them to never give up on their dreams and that with much effort those dreams would become reality.

In closing Bill Johnson offered to have the students come forward and have their picture taken with the man of history. The swarm of children that engulfed Heft was amusing and his smile beamed as they all gathered around and recited the Pledge of Allegiance…a fitting tribute to the man who created our current flag and symbol of our freedom.

With the holidays coming and times being tough, of course people are looking for anyway to make a few extra bucks. But for one Stanton man, his idea led him straight to the Powell County Detention Center. Cory Centers’ idea allegedly was to steal from a local farm and try to rob a video store.

Police were called to Airport Video last Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. after a clerk called saying that a man had tried to rob her. When they arrived the officers found that the suspect had fled the scene. However, they were able to get a good description of Centers. Officers began to search for him but had to wait a short time to find him.

While searching, Stanton Police Officer Donovan Crabtree and Deputy Grant Faulkner came across Centers in front of the Mountain View Drive-In on East College Avenue. Centers, 22, was carrying a chain saw when officers found him. According to the citation, Centers admitted to taking the chain saw from Van Bert Farms, which is located on Derickson Lane in Stanton.

Officers took Centers back to Airport Video, where the clerk identified Centers as being the man who tried to rob the store. Centers was placed under arrest and lodged in the Powell County Detention Center.

Centers has been charged with receiving stolen property and criminal attempt to commit second degree robbery. Centers had a July, 2008 probation violation bench warrant from Montgomery County served on him at the jail. Those charges were for first degree attempted robbery and third degree burglary. He is currently being held without a bond.

Powell County Ambulance crews assist Estill County Jailer James Morris after a two vehicle accident at the intersection of Washington Street and West Railroad Street in Stanton.

A Saturday morning accident in Stanton sent two men to the hospital and shut down part of Washington Street for nearly an hour. The accident involved the Estill County Jailer after he reportedly ran a stop sign at the intersection at Railroad Street just after 8:30 a.m.

Stanton Police Chief Kevin Neal, Powell Deputy Grant Faulkner, the Stanton Fire Department and the Powell County Ambulance Service responded to the scene. Upon arriving they found an Estill County Detention Center cruiser facing southbound on Washington Street after it had been struck by a 1994 Chevrolet C/K 1500 driven by David L. Jones of Stanton. Inside the cruiser officers found James Morris of Irvine.

According to police Morris had just dropped off release papers at the Powell County Detention Center for an Estill County inmate that was being held there. Morris apparently was heading to Breathitt County, according to what he told police, and drove down Breckinridge Street before turning east on Railroad Street. Morris failed to stop at the intersection, running the stop sign. Jones was unable to stop and hit the cruiser on the driver’s side front quarter panel.

The accident caused serious damage to both vehicles and both had to be taken away by local towing companies.

Morris, 68, suffered what appeared to be a broken left arm and was taken by Powell County Ambulance to Clark Regional Medical Center. He was then transferred to the UK Medical Center. Jones, 50, reportedly was also transported to Clark Regional with a leg injury. There was no information about Jones’ injury at press time.

“He (Morris) said he couldn’t remember what happened when I spoke to him at the scene,” Chief Neal said. “There was what we call a little shadowing, which is a light skid mark, just as you pass the white line where you are supposed to stop at the sign. You usually see that when someone realizes they need to stop but it is too late. It looks quite apparent that he ran the stop sign and the other driver stated as much too.”

According to his office Morris has undergone possibly three surgeries on the arm. The first was to place a steel plate at the shoulder, it as unclear what the second surgery was for and the third was reportedly done by a vascular surgeon. The latest surgery took place on Tuesday.

When it comes to Christmas shopping, we sometimes substitute our local merchants for the ones in bigger locales.

Charles Cable may know more about “subbing” than anyone in Slade.

When he isn’t doing substitute teaching in his native Wolfe County, you can find him filling in for “the boss” at Boone Forest Shop on Natural Bridge Road.

“The boss” is more commonly known as his wife, Phyllis, and the two of them have spent 37 of their nearly 50 years as a couple operating the gift shop.

Sensing the potential for the community, and knowing he needed to do something to supplement the $186 per month he was making as a teacher, the Cables joined the Jot ‘m Down Store (now home of Miguel’s Pizza) and Pottery Queen (now Country Junction) as the only businesses in town in 1972.

Charles may have been following “the power of positive thinking” when he ventured into the business world, but his mindset had nothing to do with Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, author of a book by that name.

These days, when the friendly 71-year-old wants some advice he need only walk next door to the Frontier Shop operated by his friend, Silas Tutt.

The pair grew up within about a mile of each other, and can be a dangerous combination, even as senior citizens.

For example, it wasn’t so long ago that another neighbor was preparing to open a shop in an older building that had a drive-up window.

The neighbor had made it known to a man he was buying insurance from that no cooking would be going on inside the building, a situation that would make his rates higher if that was the case.

Knowing the insurance agent was coming back for a final inspection while the owner was away, Charles and Silas (an artist) made up a very nice sign advertising hot dogs, hamburgers and fries, and placed it under the drive-up window.

Their new neighbor had a lot of explaining to do, but everyone had a good laugh in the end.

Other than fudge, and a lot of it, the Cables sell no food items out of their attractive 2,000 square foot building.

‘T’ shirts are the biggest seller at the shop that remains open from about March 1 until Christmas, depending on weather conditions.

The Cables have seen numerous market changes over the years.

“Today’s generation is not into collectibles. Fads come and go. Apples were big for awhile, and ducks. Now, if you have anything with a duck on it, you may as well take it home,” says Charles.

Other items that were in demand at one time, such as salt and pepper shakers, bells and glassware, are no longer prime sellers.

“But, they’ll all come back, everything goes in cycles,” notes Charles, who also worked in the wholesale florist business for a decade, and spent two years selling insurance.

Like most people in this line of business, the Cables travel to gift shows in search of unique items for re-stocking their shelves, but they do so with caution.

“We have learned you don’t buy fad items in November thinking they will still be popular in spring,” says Charles, further noting that mood rings are a prime example.

The Cables say their business has done well.

“We took a chance, and it worked,” says Charles.

Both remain confident the best times lie ahead, with the biggest community needs being a large sit-down restaurant and more attractions geared toward families.

Charles says he would like to see a short line railroad, maybe carrying visitors between Slade and Torrent.

Momma always said there would be days like these, but you always hoped she was wrong.

Or how about no good deed goes unpunished.

Pick a cliché, either one will do in this case.

What started out as a good deed ended up in an off-duty law enforcement officer’s vehicle being damaged and police working two accidents just a few yards from each other. The accidents occurred last Sunday morning at the 29 mile marker of the Mountain Parkway.

Police were dispatched to the Mountain Parkway at 6:20 a.m. due to a single car accident at the 29 mile marker.

The Powell County Dispatch Center received a call from Brian Brooks, a Park Ranger who just got off work at Natural Bridge State Park. Brooks had stopped to assist with a vehicle that had hit a guard rail and was sitting partially into the left lane.

According to the police reports, a 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier driven by Jeffery B. Cochran of Lawrenceburg was traveling east. He told Stanton Police Chief Kevin Neal that he apparently fell asleep and the next thing he knew he was heading toward the median.

Cochran struck the end of the guard rail at the Manning Road overpass. Neither Cochran nor his passengers, Ashley Cochran or Susan Cochran, were injured.

Brooks stopped to check on the trio and pulled his 1995 Ford Explorer onto the emergency lane across from the Cochran vehicle. Brooks left his emergency flashers on to warn oncoming traffic.

While waiting for police, another vehicle approached. That car, a 1996 Mitsubishi, was driven by Amanda Patrick of Campton. Patrick pulled her car into the left lane to avoid Brooks Explorer, but then apparently saw the Cochran’s Cavalier protruding into the left lane.

“It looks like she may have panicked, at least that is what Brooks seemed to think,” Neal said.

Patrick told police she attempted to steer away from the Cavalier and struck Brooks vehicle on the driver’s side. Both Patrick’s car and Brooks SUV came to a halt in a ditch on the north side of the Mountain Parkway. Neither Patrick nor her passenger, William Patrick, was injured.

“He (Brooks) was doing what he should do and she (Patrick) did what she was supposed to do, but the car in the lane forced her to swerve back,” Neal said. “You have to feel for him (Brooks), he was just trying to do a good thing and check on people to make sure no one was hurt.”